ye5man
New Member
1%
Posts: 7,928
|
Post by ye5man on Aug 13, 2011 17:54:49 GMT -5
Welling was given a fucking heck of a lot more to do than Routh.
|
|
|
|
Post by stargazer01 on Aug 13, 2011 23:12:33 GMT -5
Yup, like a heck of A LOT more whining. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Valentine Smith on Aug 25, 2011 10:20:23 GMT -5
Has anybody bothered to make a Smallville "greatest hits" list. I'm talking about the 3-5 important episodes per season that actually advance the Superman story or introduce other DC Universe characters. I'm kind of in the mood to revisit Smallville now that it's over (didn't think I'd say that), but I really don't have patience for all the bullshit.
I just wanna watch season premieres and finales, and anything important with Jor-El, Fortress, Supergirl, other heroes, etc...
|
|
|
|
Post by Jimbo on Aug 25, 2011 10:21:31 GMT -5
I just wanna watch season premieres and finales, and anything important with Jor-El, Fortress, Supergirl, other heroes, etc... That includes the episode where Zod stabs Lana through the hand. Best. Episode. Ever. |
|
Keith
New Member
Posts: 3,238
|
Post by Keith on Aug 25, 2011 12:17:16 GMT -5
Lana from Smallville.. the one time I wouldn't mind them killing off a major character.
|
|
Metallo
New Member
The worlds finest heroes
Posts: 17,078
|
Post by Metallo on Aug 25, 2011 17:55:53 GMT -5
Welling opening up the shirt should have been the first an only time we saw Superman. THAT was very well done. But then they had this cock tease of him becoming Superman and not showing it? It was laughable how they kept doing these extreme wide shots or cropping his head not to show him up close in the suit.
They should have stuck with the original plan of him becoming Superman on screen for the firs time in the final shot.
And Darksied was terrible. A whole season of buildup for that? Another lame ass evil cloud The fight was over that fast?
|
|
|
|
Post by Jimbo on Aug 25, 2011 18:24:50 GMT -5
And Darksied was terrible. A whole season of buildup for that? Another lame ass evil cloud The fight was over that fast? Pretty typical on Smallville. Not really much money to do much more. Remember when Zod took over Lex's body? Once Clark showed up, the fight was over in a matter of seconds, and Zod was out of his body. No matter how bad things got in a season finale, they tended to be fully resolved halfway through the next season's premiere. Too bad really. |
|
Metallo
New Member
The worlds finest heroes
Posts: 17,078
|
Post by Metallo on Aug 25, 2011 19:49:32 GMT -5
That would be the reach exceeding the grasp wouldn't it? Why didn't they just do something they were more capable of pulling off?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2011 22:49:32 GMT -5
OK, CW, what the fuck? Where's Season 11 already? It's October.
|
|
theoj
New Member
Posts: 440
|
Post by theoj on Nov 1, 2011 18:04:37 GMT -5
A pretty big let down tonight with the UK E4 premiere of the final ever episode...
The only thing I liked about it was hearing John Williams music for the last two minutes!
|
|
|
|
Post by crazy_asian_man on Dec 19, 2011 4:14:12 GMT -5
Just starting viewing "Smallville" from the very FIRST season--- and am on the 8th episode so far---
TOTALLY forgot how GOOD this first season was.... Clana actually is touching, not annoying as heck. The emphasis is much on the 'X-files/Twilight Zone' aspect--- and in a good way. The 'meteor freaks' chosen at this point are great metaphors for social ills that haven't changed.
Will be curious to see when/how this series started to go bad. One thing for sure, the first season so far strikes a nerve about the human condition, something I know was missing later on- and became a pure fantasy that only slightly resembled anything that felt like the Superman comics mythos and barely connected to anything really personal later on, barring a few brilliant episodes here and there.
Curious to keep following this and be able to more easily pinpoint when/how things took a nose dive.....
But in any case, revisiting Smallville Season 1 rocks. Amazed how much I've forgotten just HOW good it was (so far)....
|
|
ye5man
New Member
1%
Posts: 7,928
|
Post by ye5man on Dec 19, 2011 6:03:23 GMT -5
I thought the first 3 or 4 seasons were generally very good, particularly around the end of season 2. I just got bored of it after that. I've got them all on DVD now but no interest yet to revisit
|
|
Metallo
New Member
The worlds finest heroes
Posts: 17,078
|
Post by Metallo on Dec 19, 2011 8:13:28 GMT -5
Is there an option on the dvd's to take out the Krypto meteor freak parts? That was the worst part of the show in the first few seasons.
|
|
|
|
Post by Valentine Smith on Dec 19, 2011 8:41:13 GMT -5
Even though the meteor freak device was pretty hackneyed, I was always kinda blown away by Season One. The production values were top-notch, and the cast was terrific. Yes, even Lana. There was real chemistry with her and Welling back then, and the writers hadn't completely beaten the relationship into the ground.
I gotta say, though...I've had ZERO desire to revisit this show since it ended. Maybe in another couple of years.
|
|
Metallo
New Member
The worlds finest heroes
Posts: 17,078
|
Post by Metallo on Dec 19, 2011 9:43:12 GMT -5
Smallville went on for 5 years too long. For me to want to rewatch ten years worth of episodes most of it needs to be amazing. Theres just too much in general there to want to sift through especially since most of it was filler. Who wants to invest that much time? Even if you watched a couple of episodes every night it would take over 6 months to get through them all.
And most of the music and WB tween angst from that era...man its got to be dated as heck as well as repetitive. Don't really feel like seeing Clark mope over Lana for 20 minutes per episode. Even Lois & Clark has more rewatchability for me. At least it could be fun on occasion.
|
|
|
|
Post by crazy_asian_man on Dec 19, 2011 13:26:32 GMT -5
Well, so far it's been pretty good, I'm checking out a few episodes a night, and plan to, scribbling notes down for myself here and there to see if there really is a way to whittle the 'essentials' down over the ten seasons for either a coherent 'best of' list that could include only the episodes that you'd REALLY need or were really good enough to keep in a collection.
A couple of things I'm noticing/making note of in seeing this series 'fresh' again...
The 'meteor freak of the week' that I remember did get old....but for the first season, it actually feels pretty fresh (and works pretty well) right now. I'm curious at what point it does becomes stale....but so far, (up to episode 8 where I'm on), it works well---
And- sidenote- it's hilarious to see a young Amy Adams in scenes where she doesn't have to do anything but eat everything in sight.
Also, seeing the cast so young (and more age appropriate) in their roles, reminded me how well they were actually cast. Reminded me that there really WERE a lot of good things going for this show--
One glitch that I thought so far was a big continuity/character guffaw already, though, was having Clark want to be part of the same high school football team that would string up students and leave him freezing to death in a cornfield overnight. Yeah, he does have that dream/fantasy of being a football player as 'doing something normal'--- but it was a lost story/character opportunity I think to see how he interacts/gets along/doesn't get along with the gung-ho players characterwise.
Speaking of football players....
Right now, I'm realizing that in a number of ways how the character of Whitney actually adds/added more to the reality of the show, and how the balance was 'off' when his character exited it. If high school is a surreal experience for everyone, having the bully's presence constantly there made Clark more the underdog- I'm not back at that point yet in rewatching episodes, but with knowing what's ahead, I'm starting to realize things that actually were better left in, than taken out later.
Anyhow, it's a fun experience so far.....but at the same time, I know I'm going to be in for pain and disappointment later on, but it'll be interesting to refresh myself points where they went RIGHT, not just where they went wrong in the series.
|
|
|
|
Post by Valentine Smith on Dec 19, 2011 13:42:04 GMT -5
I'd love to see your "best of" list when it's compiled, CAM.
When I do eventually revisit this series, I'd like it to be in highlight reel fashion.
|
|
Metallo
New Member
The worlds finest heroes
Posts: 17,078
|
Post by Metallo on Dec 19, 2011 14:41:58 GMT -5
Most of the time the only Smallville episodes worth catching were the Finale and Premieres because thats when things came to a head and actually happened in those early years.
I find it funny now that they went to the trouble to make Pete Ross the token black character and he wasn't even that great of a character. pretty soon he'd be gone and it didn't even matter. Then there were like...no minorities on the show.
|
|
|
|
Post by crazy_asian_man on Jan 19, 2012 22:10:41 GMT -5
Jumped forward & purchased Smallville: Final Season.... got through most of the season, and I have to say--
If you get past the idea that it's NOT going to be the 'canon' Superman- AND- the idea that we'd never actually see a proper version of the DC universe, but an alternate one...
I'm enjoying it FAR more than I thought I would, the main difference being that Anne Coffel Summers (the script editor of the GOOD seasons of Chuck and one of the stronger writers of Battlestar Galactica) I notice is the supervising producer on this season.
Wow. REALLY suprised. Stargazer, you would like this last season..... and I don't say that lightly. It actually has a nice sense of humor that it lacked in the first few seasons. It is like a mishmash of a reboot of "Lois and Clark" and bits and pieces of newer comics, but overall I think it's a very strong season--- again, if you put away the idea that it's going to be 'canon'.
|
|
|
|
Post by Valentine Smith on Jan 19, 2012 22:26:53 GMT -5
In most episodes of that last season, there would be about ten minutes where they'd nail something, and then it would be more...
"I guess I'm just not the hero everyone thinks I am"
"But Clark, you need to become who you're supposed to be."
"Then why don't I hear that from Jor-El?"
Until I'm like: SHUT THE FUCK UP! ALL OF YOU!!!!! I was rooting for Darkseid by the end of it all.
Also, hearing "The Blur" repeated about forty times an episode made me awfully stabby. Horrible, stupid nickname.
|
|
|
|
Post by stargazer01 on Jan 20, 2012 5:02:04 GMT -5
Jumped forward & purchased Smallville: Final Season.... got through most of the season, and I have to say-- If you get past the idea that it's NOT going to be the 'canon' Superman- AND- the idea that we'd never actually see a proper version of the DC universe, but an alternate one... I'm enjoying it FAR more than I thought I would, the main difference being that Anne Coffel Summers (the script editor of the GOOD seasons of Chuck and one of the stronger writers of Battlestar Galactica) I notice is the supervising producer on this season. Wow. REALLY suprised. Stargazer, you would like this last season..... and I don't say that lightly. It actually has a nice sense of humor that it lacked in the first few seasons. It is like a mishmash of a reboot of "Lois and Clark" and bits and pieces of newer comics, but overall I think it's a very strong season--- again, if you put away the idea that it's going to be 'canon'. Saw the finale. Very weak overall, imo. Glad you've liked it, I'm just not interested in Smallville overall. Just not my type, but maybe someday on reruns. |
|
|
|
Post by crazy_asian_man on Jan 20, 2012 12:17:50 GMT -5
The finale by itself is pretty weak. Seeing the season in order, not just solo episodes -(no need to wait for a second week), the producer-writer for this last season is Anne Couffel Saunders- the same producer-writer for the best seasons of "Chuck"- and although I missed a couple of seasons, this felt like a COMPLETELY different show... in a good way!
The last season is more an ensemble show, (which is definitely a good thing) with strong male AND female characters. "Clark alone moping over Lana" isn't the dynamic in this season- thank god. The Tess Mercer character- actually becomes very dimensional and (to my suprise) one of the more interesting characters that develops in the show.
There are a lot of nods towards the DC universe, done in their (lower budget) style.... but to me, the show seemed (generally) smarter and well done- as one long continuous story.... and- go figure- layers to some of the situations this time around, that actually have genuine emotion (one of the more interesting ones to me that could have been handled badly was Tess Mercer's trying to protect and save the evil child Luthor from the same path: giving back the argument- 'nature' or 'nuture' to become a person).
The bits with Lois and Clark really are the center of the show- and having things try to build towards a 'big epic ending' on a shoestring budget--- while not wholly successful- the season itself was very enjoyable for the character moments and interactions.... very much similiar to what I liked about SR.
If you have a chance, would really reccomend not just one, but a few episodes to really get sucked into this season. You'd be suprised. I was.
|
|
Metallo
New Member
The worlds finest heroes
Posts: 17,078
|
Post by Metallo on Jan 20, 2012 13:38:34 GMT -5
The showdown with Darkseid was anti climactic. People complain about Superman Returns riding the Donnerverse's coattails...well Smallville did it just as bad as a way to get some cheap love by association from the fans. The finale's flash forward into the future seemed almost hokey. They crammed that Williams music in there whenever..even when it didn't quite fit.
The wide shots of the (Superman Returns) CGI model just seemed lazy as well as silly when we didn't even get a proper closeup of Smallvilleman. Using the SR suit as a prop then using another suit later when he rips the shirt open? Why use the SR suit at all? Seems like the budget issues hurt the show a lot. They really should have gotten their sh** together better for the final episode.
|
|
|
|
Post by crazy_asian_man on Jan 20, 2012 13:49:48 GMT -5
The showdown was anticlimactic, I agree. They should have planned better if everything was building to it. It felt like they had a rough idea, but wrote it at the last second or as if they had a season cut short at the last second (but they didn't- as far as I know) to wrap things up.
I knew long before from everyone else that the costume reveal would be disappointing. In viewing it, it really looks like (to me) something that Welling didn't want any part of, but was either forced on in post (it's just incredibly awkward the way the fx are stitched in)--- as it would have been easy enough to get Welling to wear SOMETHING for a midshot if nothing else.
If it was preplanned like this, I agree it just looked bad and not intentional.
I do find it odd that Welling/nobody has a final episode commentary. Maybe there was in-fighting up to the end?
Still..... I had very low expectations for the finale, but I thought that given what they were dealt with when Gough/Millar left, they plugged in a lot of continuity holes and did a lot of things that I actually was pretty happy with.
And believe me--- I'm not a giant Smallville supporter, by far.
But, I do give enough of a thumbs up for the last season overall, despite a messed up final scene. (*Should the New Gods have been translated more literally/accurately? Absolutely. But, given what they've been doing over the years, I knew at best, it was going to probably only be 10-20%, if that, faithful.)
|
|
|
|
Post by Valentine Smith on Jan 21, 2012 12:35:51 GMT -5
I enjoyed the finale when I watched it, but thinking back on it, I have pretty much zero desire to revisit it.
Even the standout episodes (JSA, Legion, etc)I enjoyed thoroughly while "in the moment", but the thought of suffering through all of the postmodern, passive-aggressive horseshit to get to the good stuff in those episodes is just too much for me.
|
|
